Q&A with the Secretary of the Queensland Dragon Boat Club, Julie Elliot
The Queensland Dragon Boat Club were the first rowing club to install a Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker into their new boathouse.
We recently got in touch with their secretary, Julie Elliot, to talk about dragon boating and how this new stacker has helped her club\’s day-to-day running.
What got you into dragon boat racing?
\”I have always loved water sports and love keeping fit. The first time I watched a dragon boat race I thought it looked like a lot of fun, but a challenge at the same time; Having 22 people in a boat is never easy to get everyone on the same page! So I gave it a go and here I am 8 years later and still loving it!\”
What do you love about dragon boating?
\”The camaraderie and of course when we race the thrill of 20 people all paddling in sync, not to mention the drummer and sweep willing us to win!\”
As the secretary of a dragon boat club, what do you see as the benefit of offering dragon boats over (or along with) rowing and sculling?
\”Of course there are a number of benefits. Dragon Boats just by its nature attracts large numbers, so immediately you feel part of a large family.\”
Dragon boating is a great team sport due to the number of people required to power the vessel. Do you think this makes a difference in the club atmosphere?
\”Absolutely it makes a difference to the club atmosphere. I guess with any large team sports the camaraderie would be high and it’s no different in dragon boats. Gold Coast Dragons is a small community and having the numbers means we are able to give back to our local community as well. Annually, we host events such as the Cancer Council Queensland Dragon Boat regatta, which usually raises around $10,000 for the charity and we host ‘come and try’ days for the Varsity Lakes Community to encourage people to embrace the sport and at the same time get fit.\”
What have been the teams’ reactions to the new Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker from Space Saver Rowing Systems?
\”Obviously, we are all excited. Previously, we had to store our boats on trailers or trolleys and this required at lot of space. Having the Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker now means we can store our boats safely and neatly without the added worry of our crew injuring themselves lifting the heavy boats.\”
Why did you choose this design?
\”We wanted a stacking system that could cater for heavy loads and eliminate the risk of back injury or dropping the boats! We looked at the rowers\’ stacking system and wondered whether that design could be tailored to suit our needs. So we approached Douglas and he was able to come up with this design for us.\”
Is it easy to use?
\”It’s very easy to use. It now only takes a few people to load or unload the boats and once the boat is loaded onto the arm of the mechanical stacker, it is as simple as pressing the button to raise it to store the next one underneath.
What are some of the benefits you’ve noticed to having a mechanised stacker?
\”As well as the obvious benefits, it now takes half the time to store our boats. Which gives more time to do what GCD do best and that’s paddle hard and play harder!\”
Get in touch with our team
As you can see, the Mechanical Dragon Boat Stacker is a great asset to the Queensland Dragon Boat Club. If you\’d like to know more about boating storage solutions, fill out the form on our contact page https://www.ssrs.net.au/contact-us/
